Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series

The torches flickered wildly, casting shifting shadows across the Obsidian Ring. The arena was too small for long-range combat, but that worked in Adrian's favor. He didn't need distance. He needed darkness.

The announcer's voice boomed across the stands.

"For this duel, the rules of Hunter's Reckoning apply! Competitors will battle in shifting zones of light and darkness. Those in the light will be fully visible, while those in the shadows will be obscured!

Victory is determined by incapacitation, and per Head Nurse Miss Seacole's orders- attacks may only be inflicted on the torso! Strikes to the head or limbs will be considered invalid."

A murmur swept through the audience at that last rule.

Adrian's grip on his dagger tightened.

That restriction meant no quick tendon cuts to slow Ambrose down. No disarming slashes.

Only deep, damaging strikes that his opponent could regenerate from.

Across the battlefield, Ambrose rolled his shoulders, a confident grin on his face.

That was his weakness.

If Adrian could land enough of those numbing wounds…

If he could keep Ambrose from healing…

Maybe he could win.

"Duelists, prepare yourselves!"

Adrian exhaled slowly, shifting his stance. His learher jacket barely rustled as he sank into the shadows, melding into the darkness.

Ambrose smirked. "You can run all you want." He cracked his knuckles. "You still have to come back to finish the job."

Adrian didn't respond.

The horn sounded.

The match started.

Ambrose moved first.

His body tensed before he launched himself forward fast. He was strong, but his regeneration meant he could afford to take risks.

Adrian was nowhere to be seen.

Ambrose pivoted sharply just as a flicker of movement appeared at his side, and Adrian struck.

The dagger sliced across Ambrose's ribs, and the shadow coating on the blade pulsed.

Ambrose hissed as the numbing magic took hold, spreading through his torso. His muscles stiffened.

Adrian was already gone.

A second later, there was another strike.

A deep cut along Ambrose's abdomen. Another pulse of numbing magic.

The audience barely saw Adrian move.

It was like watching a phantom dance between the shadows- appearing only long enough to carve wounds into his opponent.

Ambrose stumbled. His breath hitched as he felt the full weight of Adrian's magic settling into his body.

His regeneration wasn't keeping up.

But his grin never faded.

Then, Ambrose did something unexpected.

He threw himself forward into the darkness.

The crowd gasped.

Aiden's eyes widened. He's forcing Adrian to fight him up close.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then came a flicker of movement.

Adrian struck from the side, blade aimed straight for Ambrose's sternum.

Ambrose spun at the last second.

His hand lashed out- catching Adrian's wrist. The entire ring erupted with shock.

Adrian's eyes widened. He was too late. Ambrose yanked him forward, twisting...

And slammed a fist into his ribs.

Adrian choked as he was sent flying. He hit the stone floor hard, skidding.

The torches flared. Shadows disappeared. And for the first time in the match, Adrian was fully exposed.

Adrian hit the stone floor with a sharp grunt, rolling to disperse the impact. His ribs ached where Ambrose had struck him, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. The torches flared again, shrinking the shadows, leaving him out in the open.

Ambrose stood where he had thrown Adrian, grinning through bloodstained teeth. His previous wounds were still there- deep and slow-healing- but he didn't look the least bit concerned.

In the stands, Shiloh let out a sharp whistle.

"Wow, that was pathetic," he snorted, kicking his feet up on the railing. "Your little assassin can't even stay in the shadows. What good is a rat if it keeps getting dragged into the light?"

Lochan laughed, arms crossed. "Told you, he's no match. Ambrose is just playing with him at this point."

Sevan's fingers tensed against his book, but he didn't look up. Aiden, however, had his eyes locked onto the fight.

He wasn't worried.

Adrian's heart was still steady.

And his dagger was still coated in shadows.

This wasn't over.

Back in the ring, Adrian pushed himself up.

Ambrose cracked his knuckles. "That numbing shit of yours is nasty," he admitted, rolling his shoulder. "But it doesn't matter if you can't land a real finishing blow."

Adrian tilted his head, grinning. "Doesn't it?"

Ambrose's breath hitched.

The numbing magic was getting worse. His movements were still fast, still strong, but his body wasn't responding as quickly as before.

And Adrian knew it.

In an instant, he was gone again.

Ambrose's instincts screamed at him. He twisted, throwing up his arms...

"Too late."

Adrian's dagger carved deep into his side. A burst of black energy rippled from the wound.

The numbness spread.

Ambrose gasped. He couldn't feel his left side.

The crowd erupted in shock.

Aiden could see Shiloh's smirk faltered. Lochan straightened.

Aiden's expression remained unreadable. He knew it.

Adrian wasn't fighting to win in a single strike. He was breaking Ambrose down. Piece by piece.

"That's a good strategy..." Sevan murmured. "And here I thought he doesn't use his head."

Ambrose gritted his teeth. He forced himself forward, swinging.

Adrian sidestepped, smooth as flowing ink. Out came another cut- right along Ambrose's ribs.

More numbing magic.

Ambrose was slowing down.

His regeneration couldn't keep up.

He let out a frustrated growl.

Adrian appeared just outside his range, twirling his dagger between his fingers. "Still think I'm no match?"

Ambrose snarled and charged- but his steps were sluggish.

Adrian smiled.

Now. He could finish this.

Ambrose's frustration was palpable now. His muscles tensed, and his breath came in sharp, quick exhales. The numbing effect of Adrian's dagger should have been slowing him down, making him sluggish, uncoordinated.

But instead…

He was moving faster.

Adrian narrowed his eyes, keeping his stance low, dagger coated in shadows, ready to strike again. He had been wearing Ambrose down, making him stumble over his own feet, forcing him to defend more than attack.

So why did it feel like the tides had shifted?

Ambrose smirked, cracking his neck. Too confident. Too sure.

Adrian lunged, flickering out of sight for a second before reappearing at Ambrose's side- the perfect angle.

His dagger swung toward Ambrose's ribs.

Then...

Ambrose moved. Too fast. Too strong.

Before Adrian could react, a fist slammed into his ribs with bone-rattling force. His body lifted off the ground as the impact sent him flying backward, air ripped from his lungs.

The entire Obsidian Ring went silent.

For a second, Adrian's vision blurred.

He hit the ground hard, skidding across the stone floor, his dagger knocked from his grasp. Pain erupted in his ribs, spreading through his torso like fire. If he hadn't twisted at the last second, he would've been crushed.

The murmurs in the stands started immediately.

"That hit-"

"That wasn't just normal strength..."

"Ambrose should've been affected by the numbing effect by now."

Up in the stands, Aiden's hands clenched into fists. He had been watching the fight with careful eyes, tracking every movement. But that?

That wasn't right.

Sevan, still holding his book, slowly shut it. His voice was low. "That was unnatural."

Shiloh and Lochan, sitting just a few rows ahead, turned toward them.

"What's wrong, Chase?" Shiloh grinned, resting his chin on his hand. "Not liking what you see?"

Lochan smirked. "Told you Adrian was no match."

Aiden ignored them, his gaze fixed on the arena. He exhaled sharply.

No, Adrian could have handled Ambrose. He knew Adrian. He knew his style, his speed, his tactics.

But Ambrose?

Ambrose had cheated.

It wasn't obvious, not to the untrained eye. But the way he had burst forward, the unnatural power behind that hit...

Something was off.

Back in the arena, Adrian forced himself to move. His side ached with every breath. He rolled onto one knee, one hand gripping his ribs where the pain radiated.

Damn. If that hit had fully landed, he wouldn't be standing.

Ambrose wiped the blood from his lip and sneered. "What's wrong? Thought you had me?"

Adrian didn't answer.

He wasn't stupid.

Ambrose wasn't just fighting to win.

He was fighting dirty.

And now?

Adrian was going to make him pay for it.